Bookbinding construction



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E S; SCHADE BiQlQKEINDING consmuc'non Filed Aug. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nilnnllllnlIllllllllillllllu Z n h n u I, FEE... lllllllllllllllllllllll l j INVENTOR fklmjmmim I i ATTORNEYS June 3,1941; F. s. scHADE BOOKIBINDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. '22, 1940 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOKBINDING CONSTRUCTION Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, Mass., assignor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a. corporation of Massachusetts Application Augustfifl, 1940, Serial No. 353,722

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bookbinding construction.

The object is to make an improved book characterized by one or more of the combinations claimed. These combinations will be disclosed in illustrative detail. Some of the advantages will be obvious. Others will appear from points of view to be considered.

Generally considered, the improved construction provides a new and useful bound book. Its cost of manufacture is low; its appearance has new and attractive features; and the mechanical elements in combination cooperate for useful results, all as will be explained.

In the drawings-.-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bookbinding, case, an intermediate product, as produced at low cost by known and automatic machines Fig. 2 is a detail view indicating the manner of providing slots in the case;

Fig. 3 is a top view of a book filler construction before it is bound in the case;

Fig. 4 is a full size end view of the case indicating the manner of shaping its back and hinge portions;

Fig. 5 is'a full size end view of the book filler construction before it is bound in the case;

Fig. 6 is an end View of the assembly of parts separately shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the two binding rod elements;

Fig. 8 is a full size top view of the finished book in closed position; and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the book in open position on a flat surface.

I have indicated in the drawings the best manner now known to me of practicing my invention. I will describe this particular species for illustrative purposes. In Fig. 1 the binding case may be made at low cost as follows: Two cover panels I and 2 may be hinged to the back panel 3 by a single sheet of covering material 4 which holds the panels together. Such a construction is most conveniently made in well known case-.

making machines. One feature of my manutacture is to provide a pyroxylin coating on the outside of the covering material. I plan to make special use of such coating along each linebetween the edge of a cover panel and the edge of the back panel. These are the hinge lines between the back and cover portions. Such coating may be used also for general decorative and protective purposes and that is why I prefer to have it all over the outside of the binding case. Foamy special purpose it is only needed along the narrow bands of the hinge lines. I desire to use it foradhesive purposes along these lines. My particular Way of doing this will appear when I describe the assembly of the book.

After making the case of Fig. 1, I out slots 5 in the hinge portions between back and the cover portions. This is done conveniently by folding one cover against the back portion. One hinge portion is thus turned fiatwise, and the back is flatwise against one cover forming a hinge line 1. In this position one series of slots may be punched with precision across the hinge line substantially to the erge of the panel portions. The slots 5 in the other hinge portion are then likewise made. But the slots in one hinge strip are here shownas slightly offset fromthose in the other hinge strip (see Fig. 2). These slots are made to receive a coiled wire sheet binding element 6, indicated in Figs. 3 and 5.

, The slots, being offset, are in a better position to receive a binding element 6 of the helically coiled type, as shown in Fig. 3. The element of that type is generally well known and widely used. But other types are also well known that will also suit my purpose. For example, there is the binding element of the circular rather than" helically wound type. The slots would be better made without the offset described when the circular type of binding element is used for the filler. Thus, the feature of offsetting slots is related particularly to my preferred species.

After the slots are made the binding case is put in a press with a die. The latter is operated to press the back portion 3 into the curved form shown in Fig. 4. This form is of substantially the same curvature as the coiled binding element 6 of Figs. 3 and 5.

Thus, the binding element and the inside sur face of the back panel are accurately fitted to the same form. In this form the binding element 6 nests with substantial close-fitting precisioninto the back portion 3, see Fig. 6.

In said nested position the hinge portions, having been folded and creased along the hinge lines I in the operation of cutting their slots, also receive the binding element 6. 'The latter has portions protruding through the slots 5 all along the hinge lines. The folds making the hinge lines '1 protrude inside the space of the coils in the binding elements. Thus, the hinge portions nest with the binding element in aparticular way. This particular and close association of the parts as in Fig. 6 in one aspect of the invention prepares the way for the use of two special binding rods 8, one of which is shown in Fig. 7.

These rods are of particular importance. In my preferred species they are of colored plastic material. They may be of cellulose acetate or nitrate. Vinol resin may be used. Also, other plastic materials are available, having the desirable functions for my purpose. One purpose is to have the rods conveniently provide thin strips of color in the particular positions they will occupy in the finished book. Another purpose is to cooperate with the pyroxylin coat of the covering material on portions 4 at the hinge lines. 1.. They do this in a particular way now to be .described.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9. the'rods. 8' are shown as inserted along the hinge lines 1. The diameter of each rod is such asto extend from the bottoms of the fold in the cover material along its hinge line "i and to contact'with the opposite inside portions of. the binding rings 6. This is the position desired for the rods. They may. be most conveniently cemented in these positions with the help of the .plastic material of the rods and the coatingv on the covering. material. .These materials will become cemented together if a few. drops of solvent are applied at spots, as indicated at 9, where the rods 8 and pyroxylin coating on the covering material. contact. Thus, with. the parts shown in Fig. 8, successive dropsof acetone may be released from an eye dropper and thus applied at the spaced spots in the corner Where the rod 8 meets the coated material of the binding case. Each rod is cementedto the case in the same way. The solvent acts on both materials and when it dries, both materialsthat of the cover coating and. that of the rods are welded together at the spaced points. This illustrates one advantage of using materials having the characteristics of those specified as examples. This advantage is in addition to those of such material in their coloring and decorative character which I use by the particular position of one relatively. to the other.

The book has many mechanical advantages in its new form. The stiff cylindricalformof the coiled binding element is heldcloseenough to the curved back panel to bracethe latter. In this way it is braced without 'thenecessity of metal inserts so often added to the back panel merely to brace it. The rods lie at each side, each placed with precision'along one hinge line. In .that position the rod is held in the hinge groove, under the overlying coils. and most effectively held by welding to the covering material. The combination provides an exceedingly efiicient hinge construction for these reasons. The hinge action is held to the intended hinge line. by the rod on that line. When the covers are opened 180 on a fiat surface, as in Fig. 9, the rods are held in spaced relationb-y the back portion. The latter is curved over about 180. Therefore, all turning of the filler sheets on their binding coils is confined to the upper half circle of. the coils. The sheets turn more easily.

on the coils with less chance of binding if their bound margins cannot move over the lower half circle of the coils. Were they able'to move over the lower half circle, the turning of the outer sheet portions remote from the coils would tend to get angularly ahead of the portions close to the-bound margin, and cause the latter to curl around rather than lift over the vertical arcs of thecoils. This disadvantage isin the nature-oi ring bound filler packs per se. I have provided in a new way against such disadvantage. In my structure the covers turn and the filler sheets turn in a way to closely approximate the advantage of metal hinge constructions with eyes and pintles to control the action, but without the expense and other disadvantages of ordinary metal hinges.

As a refinement in positioning the construction of the coiled wire element I locate the terminal enlargements H as indicated in Figs. 5, 6, and 9. One rests against one corner of the back portion; the other rests against the diagonally opposite corner. In these positions these terminals prevent circumferential shifting of the minals cannot engage the end corners of the outside sheets. If they did, the sheets would get torn at the corners since they bind at the terminals when turned over against them. That is, aturning sheet would not be strong enough to shift the coil by contact with these terminals H were they to get out of their desired place.

One of the most important features of my structural combination is the way in which its mechanical form contributes to its fine appearance. This appearance is characteristic of the mechanical book construction. It looks more like a permanently bound'rbook of expensive construction than it does like a book bound by use of coiled wire or ring construction. It has the covers, curved back portion, and connecting flexible hinge portions indicative of the more expensive construction. Its back portion on the outside is left clear of anything to mark or interfere with printed titles or other indicia. This is accomplished most inexpensively. In addition to the aforesaid usual and desirable book appearance I have added the novel appearance of the small protruding arcs ofthe binder loops. These make a decorative series of short lines across the hinge portion. They suggest a mechanical hinge construction of either metal or lines of stitching. These short lines are preferably of contrasting color with the adjacent covering material and both are decorative. This series of short lines cross the plastic hinge rod. Each rod is chosen of a color to suitably harmonize and contrast with the other material on the outside. A rod appears on each side and suggests a narrow decorative striping along the hinge line. The plastic material is highly decorative both in color and material. Plastic material of a dominating color used as here disclosed not only with restraint for decorative purposes in a narrow strip, but also for mechanicalpurposes in emphasizing the hinge line, gives a most striking and novel appearance tothe book. The particular-use of the rods in the book combination has the double advantage of dominating not only the mechanical combination, but also a useful decorative combination and without being objectionably obtrusivein the domination of either.

In some of its specific aspects the invention may, of course, be varied in some detail, but not much. For example, the coils for binding the filler sheets might :be made'of plastic" instead of the usual wire. One need not rely on cementing the rods to the pyroxylin covering material if the'advantage of that detail is not desired. Gen erally speaking, however, the book, with the elements and in the combination as I have described the invention will, I believe,'use the invention in the best manner. The following claims point out its novelty. They are intended to do this so as to cover any fair range of equivalents when read against the background of the prior art and of my whole disclosure showing how the art is improved.

I claim:

1. The combination of a binding case made of cover and curved back portions flexibly hinged together with sheets of decorative and lining material pasted to such portions, the hinging portions of such sheets being creased to locate hinge lines and having a series of spaced slots extending transversely across said hinge lines substantially to the edges of the hinging portions, the outside sheet of decorative material having a pyroxylin coating, a filler sheet pack having a series of spaced generally circular binding loops along its margin, said loops partially protruding through the slots of the hinging portions, the outer half of the loops nested against the inside of the curved hack portion with a close fit in the curvature, a plastic rod threaded along the crease of each hinge portion and under the protruding portions of the loops, each plastic rod being welded with the pyroxylin coating of the decorative sheet.

2. The combination of a binding case made of cover and curved back portions flexibly hinged together with sheets of decorative and lining ma.- terial pasted to such portions, the hinging portions of such sheets being creased to locate hinge lines and having a series of spaced slots extending transversely across said hinge lines substantially to the edges of the flexible hinging portions, a filler sheet pack having a series of spaced generally circular binding loops along its margin, said loops partially protruding through the slots of the hinging portions, the outer half of the loops nested against the inside of the curved back portion with a close fit in the curvature, a rod threaded along the crease of each hinge portion and under the protruding portions of the loops, said rods on opposite sides of the book being large enough relatively to said flexible and creased hinging portions to hold the latter in open troughlike form to simulate the character of a permanently bound book between back portion and covers.

3. The combination of a binding case made of cover and curved back portions flexibly hinged together with sheets of material pasted to such portions, the hinging portions of such sheets being creased to locate hinge lines and having a series of spaced slots extending transversely across the said hinge lines substantially to the edges'of the hinging portions, a filler sheet pack having a series of spaced binding 1oops along its mar-gin, said loops partially protruding through the slots of the hinging portions, the outer half of the loops nested against the inside of the curved back portion with a close fit in the curvature, a rod threaded along the crease of each hinge portion and under the protruding portions of the loops the dimensions of the rods, the creased hinge portions and said protruding loop portions being related one to the other so as to shape the flexible hinge portions into open trough-like form which the protruding loop portions substantially span.

4. The combination of a binding case made of cover and curved back portions hinged together with flexible material attached to such portions, the hinging portions being creased to locate hinge lines and having a series of spaced slots extending across said hinge lines, a filler sheet pack having a series of closely spaced binding loops along its margin, said loops partially protruding through the slots of the hinging portions in stitch-like form, the outer half of the loops fitted against the inside of the back portion, rods one threaded along the crease of each hinge portion and under the protruding portions of the loops and with said loops substantially filling the hinging portions and holding them in small open trough form.

5. The combination of a binding case made of cover and back portions hinged together by flexible material, the hinging portions being creased to form hinge lines and having a series of slots extending across said hinge lines, a filler sheet pack having a series of binding loops along its margin, said loops partially protruding through said slots, the outer half of the loops fitting against the inside of the back portion, rods one threaded along the crease of each hinge portion and underneath the protruding portions of the loops the rods lying exposed on the outside surface of the book.

6. The combination of a binding case made of cover and back portions hinged together by flexible material, the hinging portions being provided with a series of slots, a'filler pack having a series of binding loops along its margin, said loops protruding through said slots, the outer part of said loops facing the inside of the back portion, and a rod threaded underneath the protruding portions of the loops one on each side of the book said rods being dimensioned to hold said hinging portions in small open trough form and to maintain the protruding portions of the loops in position each in arch form across its trough.

7. The combination of a binding case made of cover and flexible hinge portions, each hinge portion being provided with slots, a filler sheet pack having binding loops along its margin, said loops protruding through said slots in both hinges on opposite sides of the case, and a rod threaded along each hinge portion underneath the protruding portions of the loops.

8. A book comprising a separately bound filler pack, loops of stifi material binding said pack and on which the individual sheets may turn, a covering binder case having flexible hinge portions one on each' side of the book each provided with a series of transverse. slots, said loops extending through said slots, a rod threaded under the loops and resting in the hinge portion on one side and a second rod likewise arranged on the other side of the book the covers of the books being about tangent to the sides of said loops when the book is in closed position.

9. A book comprising a separately bound filler pack, loops of stiff material binding said pack and on which the individual sheets may turn, a covering binder case having flexible hinge portions in the form of outwardly opening small troughs each provided with a series of transverse slots, said loops extending through said slots, 2. rod threaded under the loops and resting in the bottom of the hinge portion on one side and a second rod likewise arranged on the other side of the book, said rods being positioned about apart with. respect to said loops, and means to hold them in such position at all times to limit the sheets of the book to turning only on one-half of said loops.

10. A book having a back portion circularly curved for about 180, covers and hinge portions joining them to the back portion, a filler pack of sheet contents and a coiled wire binder fastened to nest in the back portion and. engaging holes along the binding margin of such contents, said binder having enlarged terminal portions in the formof bends in the Wire, said terminal portions being. located to rest on the curved back portion at diagonally opposite corners so as to resist circumferential movement of the coils of'wire and means in the hinge portions to limit the turning of filler pack sheets on the Wire coils to that 180 opposite to the curve of the, back portion.

FRANK STANLEY SCHADE. 

